It's rather rich that James Purnell should attempt to defenestrate Gordon Brown and then start preaching to the rest of us how to "renew" the Labour Party.
Another day, another think-tank. More sharp suits and cue for sharpening of pens by Polly Toynbee and all the other Westminster political elite who seem to think they have the answers but just re-tread the same old lines.
Meanwhile unemployment continues to grow, people struggle more every day to pay the bills, and even Alan Milburn has realised that free university education might be the best option if you're to improve the "life chances" of working-class kids.
Milburn twas of course who two years ago launched the "20 20 Vision" think-tank to similar ballyhoo with his partner in crime Charles Clarke. It sank without trace.
The last thing, frankly, which Labour needs is more nebulous window-dressing and "debate" which clearly, as Roy Hattersley said on Newsnight, is basically a re-branding of Blairism under a "left" tag. Old bruiser Peter Kilfoyle MP was also right to point out that what Labour needs to do is listen to its members and get back to core values. That won't be done by a Demos brochure or yet another swanky website written by the usual suspects living lives far removed from the reality on the streets.
Let us also remind ourselves this is the same Purnell who advocated cutting welfare benefits and making people work for them while claiming £400 a month for food on top of a Cabinet salary. So all his talk of wealth redistribution and concern about inequality rings pretty hollow.
I read his piece in the Guardian today and it had nothing new to say, basically re-hashing the mantras about "choice" which we've heard so many times before. And we on the real Left know what that means. New Labour in another guise.
Purnell and his fellow plotters disgusted many in the Party with their bid to topple Gordon Brown. I don't think many will be listening to what he has to say. Sorry, James, we've heard it all before........
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